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"In situations like the one in the video, the orangutan is completely wild and, if confirmed healthy when our vet checks him under anaesthetic, then all he needs is a new home with sufficient food and shelter to sustain him."

The film was shot in 2013 during a period of land clearance which left orangutans stranded and in urgent need of rescue.

Two years later, there was more devastation of the so-called red apes when slash and burn farming practices sparked catastrophic fires fanned by the El Nino weather system. Up to five million acres of forest were destroyed across Indonesia.

“At that time our rescue unit was out every week, sometimes for days at a time, rescuing and translocating stranded orangutans or, if they were sick or starving, bringing them into our centre for treatment and care before releasing them into safe areas,” continued Ms Key.

“Since the footage was taken, the Bornean orangutan has been reclassified as Critically Endangered, so the situation has gone from bad to worse to absolutely dire. Without action to halt the deforestation, the future of the orangutan is looking extremely bleak.

A desperate and terrified orangutan charges the bulldozer destroying his rainforest sanctuary (Image: INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE)

At that time our rescue unit was out every week, sometimes for days at a time, rescuing and translocating stranded orangutans

Elisabeth Key

As the footage went viral on social media, animal lovers were quick to protest over the shocking scenes.

One wrote on IAR’s Facebook page: “This is heart-breaking to see. We humans destroy nature and then nature comes around and gives us her revenge. Let’s do kind things for nature every day…”

Another added: “What are we doing to this world of ours? This poor orangutan desperately trying to stop the machinery destroying the only home he knows. Surely we should be protecting them? Why do we need to destroy yet another forest? Heartbroken. When will we learn to treasure what is really important?”

Earlier this week, Greenpeace said its investigations had revealed major illegal logging operation in a critical orangutan landscape in West Kalimantan, in Indonesian Borneo. The logging, it says, takes place under cover of darkness, even in locations where orangutan nests are found.